2018 Flu Tracker

Flu Season Preparedness

What is the Flu?

We commonly refer to influenza as the flu. The flu is a respiratory ailment that affects your throat, lungs, and nose. It can be contracted at any point during the year, but most commonly in the colder months. Multiple reports have been coming out that this season will be one of the worse flu seasons in recent years. Sarah Chodosh writes in, "This Flu Season Looks Like a Bad One - And It Could Be Coming Early" with increasing numbers of people, the disease is spreading far faster than it normally does." The largest case of an outbreak of the flu was in 1918-1919, where over 500 million people around the world were infected. These are the best ways to not contact the flu; get vaccinated, not be around people who are sick, and keep a healthy diet filled with exercise. The flu is an airborne disease that is transmitted by bacteria in the air through coughing, sneezing, or talking. You can also get infected when you touch the same objects that someone with the flu has. Unfortunately, there are so many different strains of the flu, if you are infected, you can still get the flu with a different strain. Vaccines do a good job at preventing the flu, but can only protect against certain types and strains of the flu.

Symptoms and Risk Factors

The flu is sometimes confused with a head cold. It differentiates itself with, "fever over 100 degrees, aching muscles, chills and sweats, headache, dry persistent cough, fatigue and weakness, nasal congestion, and a sore throat." If someone you know may have these symptoms, please seek immediate attention by your primary care physician or at a clinic. As with any disease, risk factors are the largest reasons why diseases manifest. The Mayo Clinic describes those at risk are; young children, the elderly, those who live in nursing care facilities, pregnant women, those with weakened immune systems, overweight people, and those with chronic diseases. People with weakened immune systems are either old or have diseases that compromise their immune system including; HIV/AIDs, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis, and countless others. There are ways to protect yourself. For those who are health conscious, please wash your hands frequently, avoid those with the flu, avoid large crowds, and make sure people cover their face when they sneeze or a cough.